Ativan is a product name for the drug lorazepam used for the treatment of anxiety. It is classified under a group of drugs known as benzodiazepines mainly used to create a calming effect on a patient by acting on the nervous system and the brain. Anxiety may be caused by the imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain that are affected by the use of Ativan. The drug is also used to treat other problems but only if prescribed by professional doctor.

Diagnosis and prescription

Ativan should never be used without a proper diagnosis and prescription by a qualified doctor because the result may be fatal. It is good to consult a doctor before using Ativan because it may lead to birth defects to unborn babies when used by a pregnant patient. The drug should not be used by patients who are allergic to benzodiazepines including lorazepam. If a patient is suffering from breathing problems, liver or kidney problems, depression, alcoholism or drug abuse, he/she should inform the doctor before taking Ativan. The drug should not be shared even if the patient has the same symptoms of anxiety. Ativan is known to be habit forming and should be avoided when taking alcohol because it increases the effect of alcohol.

The purchase of Ativan via the internet or from other sources outside the United States is prohibited. Purchasing drugs from the internet puts the patient at risk of getting products that contain dangerous ingredients or that may be sold by uncertified pharmacies. It is evident that some of the drugs sold online contain dangerous ingredients such as haloperidol which has very dangerous side effects. A patient can contact the U.S Food and Drug Administration for more information about drugs sale.

Ativan should be taken exactly as prescribed by a professional doctor to avoid dangerous side effects. The drug should also not be taken for a longer time than prescribed by the doctor. It advisable to use the prescribed dosage though the doctor may change the prescription if need be. Ativan is supposed to be taken for only a short time and hence should not exceed four months.

The use of Ativan should not be stopped suddenly without the consultation of a doctor. The drug has serious withdrawal symptoms. A patient is supposed to stop using Ativan gradually to avoid the withdrawal symptoms. Some of the symptoms include hallucinations, nausea, loss of appetite and insomnia among others. The patient should report any of the above symptoms to a doctor for immediate treatment. It is also advisable for a patient to have regular check ups by the doctor to avoid potential harmful effects on the patient.

Ativan is stored at room temperature and away from children. The drug is known to be addictive and can easily be abused. It is good to keep watch of the consumption of the drug to know whether someone is abusing it if the patient does not live alone.

Ativan should not be taken in excess and any overdose should be reported to the physician immediately as it might result to death. Some of the symptoms of overdose are confusion, fainting, coma and extreme drowsiness.

Paxil is a drug that is taken orally and used in the treatment of depression. Paxil is involved in the correction of certain chemicals found in the brain that are involved in the stabilizing of moods in humans. Paxil is just one among other drugs used to cure depression. Paxil plays a major role in reducing some of the symptoms of depressions such as mood swing insomnia, lack of appetite and disinterest in some activities. Paxil can significantly reduce anxiety in a patient and also fear. Paxil is also used to contain some of the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder like irritability.

Usage of Paxil

Paxil is a clinical drug with medicinal value and hence should be taken with a certain prescription from a qualified doctor. There are things that a patient needs to consider before taking Paxil for the treatment of any disorder. It is important that Paxil be used as prescribed by a doctor to avoid an over dose or under dose. Paxil use should be authorized by a qualified doctor because it works to treat any disorder according to the patient’s ability to respond to drugs and also the nature of the disorder. When using Paxil make sure that you have informed your physician if you have other conditions so that the physician may decide whether he/she will give you a gradual dose to start with.

When using Paxil to treat depression or any other disorder it is required to have regular checks ups by the doctor in order to have the medication working properly. The use of Paxil comes with disadvantages also because there are some side effects associated with Paxil use. You should not decline to take the drug for depression treatment because of the side effects associated with it. If it is a prescription of the doctor then you need to know that the doctor has knowledge of all the following side effects. In fact only few people experience the side effects.

The most common side effects are Dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, lack of appetite, sweating, yawning and experiencing a headache. It is good to inform your doctor when the symptoms increase. You should also inform your doctor about any of the following serious side effects. They may include disinterest in sex, low sexual ability, blurred vision, mood changes and numbness.

There are also other rare side effects that are described by doctors as very serious. When the victim experiences some fainting, weak muscles, dark or bloody stool, seizure experiences, irregular heartbeats and having bruises easily. Men may experience an erection that stays for a long time exceeding four hours which may also be painful. When you experience such symptoms you should make an emergency call to avoid the problems associate with the side effect which may be permanent. The use of Paxil in the treatment of any disorder may lead to an allergic reaction which may in turn lead to severe dizziness and trouble in breathing. Contact a physician when the reaction happen s to you as a result of using Paxil.

Ativan is a white substance which is nearly insoluble in water. A tablet of Ativan should contain 0.5mg-2mg of lorazepam which is the main ingredient used to create Ativan. There is however some other ingredients which are termed as inactive used to make the drug. These ingredients include polacriline potassium, lactose monohydrate and microcrystalline cellulose. Lorazepam is known to harmful to the fetus and therefore it is highly advisable not to get pregnant when using Ativan. Lorazepam is also present in breast milk and therefore it is required that you avoid breastfeeding while using Ativan.

Antivan and pregnancy

The main use of Ativan is to treat anxiety but can also be used for other purposes when prescribed by a certified doctor. Ativan which belongs to the class of benzodiazepines has been proven to show withdrawal symptoms in infants at the postnatal period. Pregnant patients should not take Ativan to avoid harming the unborn baby. The symptoms that are proven to be caused by the use of benzodiazepines especially at the late stages of pregnancy to newborns include hypothermia, apnea, hypoactivity, hypotonia, respiratory depression and cold stress. A report of a study in mice showed that lorazepam can cause cleft palate if a dose of 20mg-36mg.

Lorazepam which is the main ingredient in Ativan is present in the human breast milk in little amounts which is harmful to the baby who is being breastfed. Health specialists consider the administration of Ativan to breastfeeding mothers a high risk to the baby. It is therefore not allowed to be prescribed for use by breastfeeding mothers unless the benefits gained highly outweigh the risks associated with the use of lorazepam to the baby. Though sedation has not been proven in lorazepam it still remains a concern for breastfeeding mothers. It has however been observed in breastfeeding mothers taking other benzodiazepines. Inability to suckle, sedation and irritability are among the pharmacological effects that occur to a baby when the mother uses benzodiazepines.

Breastfeeding mothers should consider other methods of curing anxiety for example natural methods. There are few ways to cure anxiety without the use of drugs such as Ativan. A natural way of curing anxiety involves self realization and acceptance. Here are some simple steps to take for a natural risk free way to cure anxiety for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

The first step is the recognition of the anxiety. The patient should be able to recognize that she is suffering from anxiety.

The patient should take time to identify the cause of their anxiety. Some patients think that they know the trigger to anxiety but when keenly checked it turns out to be different.

The patient should be diagnosed by a fully qualified doctor to know which type of anxiety she is suffering from. It is a step that is vital in the patient getting relief from the fear and panic.

Find natural ways to cope with the anxiety, most natural anxiety remedies are found in the internet for free. The patient should also avoid the things they find to trigger anxiety as a precaution.

Lexapro which is also known as Escitalopram is a drug used to treat depression and other mental disorders. Lexapro is classified as an antidepressant and therefore used to treat anxiety and depression. Lexapro is believed to work on some of the chemicals in the human brain that are responsible for moods which include serotonin. This drug also maintains an individual’s energy level while at the same time working on the improvement of the individual’s feelings. The drug also reduces the nervousness of an individual especially if they are suffering from depression. Lexapro can be used in the treatment of some other mental disorders such as panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Lexapro only prescribed

Lexapro is a drug which is prescribed by fully qualified doctors to be used for the treatment of depression hence all the instructions that the doctor gives need to be followed to the latter. Since it is an antidepressant it can be used alongside psychotherapy in the treatment of depression without any problem. Lexapro should be taken according to its dosage to avoid complications due to mistakes in doses. If the doctor requires that a victim of depression takes a small amount of the drug as a starting dose and then increase gradually then the patient should be able to follow the instructions because the doctor will be trying to reduce the risk associated with the side effects.

It is highly advisable to take the prescribed dose because the drug is prescribed in accordance to the way the patient respond to medication and also considering the type of disorder to be treated. It is good to use the appropriate measuring device to avoid getting the wrong measurement when taking Lexapro for the treatment of depression.

When using Lexapro the patient should be careful not to stop using the drug suddenly to avoid withdrawal symptoms. The drug may have some serious withdrawal symptoms which may increase the problem instead of reducing the problem. When the withdrawal symptoms appear and the condition becomes even worse then the patient needs to consult the doctor for further assistance. In the event that a patient wants to stop using the drug, then they should consult their doctor to be able to get a program that may assist them in quitting the use of drugs gradually without having withdrawal symptoms.

Using Lexapro can lead to some side effects which their symptoms are evident in the following circumstances, patient having a dry mouth, feeling tired, dizziness, drowsiness and Nausea. These are just mild side effects and not everybody gets to experience them. There are some of the side effects that are known to be dangerous and if not checked may lead to serious permanent problems. The patient may experience some weakness in their muscles and also bleeding easily. It is advisable for the patient to call an emergency when they find out that they are having this kind of side effects. Though rare, men might find themselves having an erection that is painful and lasts for more than four hours.

Zoloft is an antidepressant and is normally used to treat depression and other conditions such as mood disorders. The use of Zoloft improves the patient’s life by avoiding thoughts of suicide, improving the patient’s mood, reducing the patient’s fear and anxiety. This drug also can help the patient increase their energy level and also be able to get enough sleep. The use of Zoloft to patients with depression increases the chances of the patient not repeating the same tasks over and over. Zoloft is a drug that belongs to a group of drugs that balance the chemicals in the human brain that are involved in control of moods. These kinds of drugs are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Zoloft against depression

Patients who suspect that they are suffering from depression should consult a doctor before using Zoloft oral for their medication. Consulting the doctor is highly advised because some patients may be having problems that can cause allergic reactions when they use Zoloft. Some of the ingredients used to make Sertraline may be inactive and form allergic reactions which may end up harming the patient. It is advisable for a patient to get a check up and complete diagnosis before taking Zoloft for the treatment of Depression. This is so because some patients may be having some problems such as alcoholism which do not go well with the use of the drug. The use of the drug with other conditions without check up by the doctor may lead to increased side effects of the drug some of them which might be permanent.

Zoloft can be used in the treatment of depression by the patient taking a complete dosage given by a qualified doctor. If the drug is used without the diagnosis and proper prescription of the patient, the drug may lead to increased chances of developing complications to the patient. A patient can consult the doctor if they are on other medication to get assistance which may include a laid out plan on taking the medication. The doctor may advice the patient to take a small amount of the drug as the starting dose and increase the dose gradually in order to reduce the risk of side effects to a patient if need be. Using Zoloft oral in the correct dose reduces the chances of getting complications after using the drug for the treatment of depression. It is advisable to read all the instructions written on the drug’s package to avoid forthcomings that may come from mistakes when taking the drug.

Zoloft oral should be taken continuously for the specified time by the doctor to get the full treatment from the drug. A patient should not withdraw the drug after a few weeks because they feel that they are okay, instead they should complete the whole dosage to avoid withdrawal symptoms.  Withdrawal symptoms can be avoided by the doctor creating a plan to reduce the dosage gradually till the patient stops taking the drugs completely. If a patient discovers that they are experiencing the withdrawal symptoms which include headaches, sleep changes and feelings of tiredness they should contact their doctor immedietly.

Ativan is a prescription drug used in the treatment of anxiety. Ativan works by improving the effects of GABA which is a natural chemical found in the human body. The drug like the others found in its classification of drugs, works on the central nervous system and the brain resulting in a calm effect to the patient. There are other uses of Ativan which may not be approved by the professional labeling but may be used if prescribed by a qualified professional. The drug can be used for treatment of insomnia, to avoid nausea and reduction of alcohol withdrawal symptoms when only prescribed by a health specialist.

Oral dosage

Ativan oral is normally taken through the mouth as the name suggests. It can be taken with food or without food according to the prescription of the physician. Ativan oral dosage is provided by the doctor who prescribes it considering the medical condition of the victim and the patient’s response to therapy. It is highly advised that the drug be used regularly as prescribed by the doctor to get the best out of the medication.

When Ativan oral is used for along time, it can cause some withdrawal symptoms. When the drug is used regularly for long time like more than four weeks, in high dosage, by a victim with alcoholism history, personality disorder or associated with drug abuse, the victim suffers from withdrawal symptoms. Some of the symptoms that are associated with Ativan oral are insomnia, seizures, mood swings, vomiting and loss of appetite, hallucinations, muscle pains, high fever, and high sensitivity to light/touch/noise. These symptoms only occur when the patient stops using Ativan oral suddenly. One way to avoid the symptoms is by reducing the dosage as prescribed by the doctor gradually and when the symptoms are experienced contact the doctor immediately.

Ativan oral use should not be stopped suddenly especially if not instructed by a qualified professional. Some of the withdrawal symptoms of Ativan oral may worsen such as memory loss, increased heartbeat and numbness of legs and arms. Victims who have had an alcoholism or drug abuse history should contact their physician for gradual dosage reduction. Ativan oral should be used like any other drug where you need a prescription from a doctor to avoid over dosage or under dosage which may be harmful to the victim’s body.

Ativan oral should not be used together with alcohol. The drug can highly exaggerate the effect of alcohol on a victim. The victim should be very careful when using Ativan because it may cause severe side effects. It is advisable for the patient to inform the doctor when using other drugs such as, narcotic pain medicines, muscle relaxers, allergy medications and depression medications. Ativan causes sleepiness and may increase the effect if the above drugs are used alongside it. The drug also has some side effects which may include but not limited to, confusion, hallucinations, agitation, fainting, light headedness and hostility. The above side effects are termed as serious and a patient should contact he doctor immediately they experience one of the symptoms.

Paxil is a drug also referred to as Paroxetine used in the treatment of depression in the class of SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Paroxetine is also capable of treating other disorders like anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. The main work of Paxil is to balance some chemicals in the human body that are responsible for the mood swings.  Paxil therefore can correct an individual’s mood, appetite and may also increase the interest of pleasurable activities. Paxil is known to reduce the intensity of anxiety and fear and also reduce the suicidal thoughts associated with depression. It is also believed to suppress some of the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder such as increased appetite and irritability.

Dosing of Paxil

The use of Paxil to treat depression highly depends on the patient’s ability to respond to medication and also the type of the depression the victim is suffering from. It is usually taken orally according to the prescribed dose. One of the things that a patient should consider before taking Paxil for depression treatment is reading the instructions on the drug to avoid taking an over dose or under dose which may turn out to be harmful to them. Taking an overdose may worsen the situation that the patient is suffering from.

It is highly recommended that a patient to receive instructions of the medication from a qualified doctor before taking Paxil. The drug should be taken through the mouth without crashing it because side effects risk may rise. The drug is normally taken on a daily basis but a patient is supposed to consult their doctor for instructions on how to take the drug. The drug is taken in the morning and evening depending on the response of the patient to the drug and the dosage. It is also highly recommended that the drug which is packed in tablets be taken as a whole without splitting it into two unless the doctor or pharmacist advises the patient to do so.

Paxil should be used as prescribed by the doctor where it is mostly required to be taken regularly without fail. The drug should be taken according to the prescription and should not be increased or reduced. The doctor should also make sue that the patient starts the drug gradually if need be because people’s response to drugs is different. Taking the drug in excess or without considering the doctor’s prescription only worsens the condition and also increases the side effects of the drug.

When Paxil is taken to treat other disorders such as the premenstrual symptoms the drug is required to be taken each and every day or only when the patient is experiencing the menstrual cycle. The medication should not be stopped at any time without consulting the doctor; this may worsen the condition or develop withdrawal symptoms. The sudden stop in medication may cause some withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, mood swing and tiredness. To be able to avoid such incidences such as withdrawal symptoms it is good for a patient to consult their doctor to be able to reduce their dose gradually.

Many people suffering with different forms of depression are always looking for the right combination of medications to use to help manage this aweful condition. Many people have found that using Effector Xr has helped them overcome depression effectively.

What is Effexor Xr (Venlafaxine)

Effexor Xr is one drug in a class called “Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).    It is available only by prescription from a doctor.  Typically it is given from a psychologist who is treating the patent for some type of depression. This medication has proven very safe and effective though there are some side effects to be aware of, and your doctor should go over these when he makes the prescription.

Effexonr Xr Used For:

Effexonr Xr is used primarily to treat different depression conditions including major depressive disorder(most common mental disorder).  Doctors also use it to combat generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorders in adults and several other related conditions.

Effector Xr Dosing:

This drug is very effective when prescribed at the proper levels.  Finding the correct dosage for each patient is very important and can sometimes take some minor adjusting by doctors.  The dosage will also depend on what the doctor is attempting to treat.  Adults with panic disorder, for example,  typically start with a standard dose of 37.5 mg per day to begin with and than after seven days it is increased to 75 mb per day.  At this point the doctors will evaluate its effectiveness and adjust further based on the individual patient. The maximum dosage for Effector Xr is 225 mg per day.

Other depression disorders may start right out at 75 mg per day and adjust up or down based on the individual’s need.  Doctors are typically very careful to fine tune the levels of medication so they can get the desired results without any unwanted side effects.

How to Use Effector Xr:

Effector Xr is taken as a single daily dose and can be taken either in the morning or the evening.  It is suggested that it is taken with food to avoid any nausea or other stomach problems.  Doctors will prescribe the proper size pills so they should never be split or divided.  When first starting taking Effector Xr you should not drive or perform any activities which require concentration.  Once you know how the medication will effect you it is acceptable to begin to incorporate these activities again if you feel it is safe.

Especially when first starting a new prescription of Effector Xr it is important to watch your blood pressure as this medication can cause it to rise.  Checking it regularly for the first few months is critical, especially for those who previously had hypertension.  Some people develop seizures when taking this medication and any of these should be immediately reported to your doctor.

Overall this medication has been proven to be quite safe and effective for treating a variety of depression related conditions.  While it can take some time to find the ideal dosing it is generally done within a few months.

Also referred to as neuroleptic medications, antipsychotic medications or antipsychotics are medications which are primarily used for the management of various psychiatric conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. They were first discovered back in the 1950s and are widely used and prescribed today by physicians all over the globe.

History of Antipsychotic Medications
The very first antipsychotic medications were actually formulated for other purposes and then just tested later on for their effectiveness on psychiatric conditions. For instance, chlorpromazine, one of the first antipsychotics, was originally developed in the 1950s to be used as a surgical anesthetic. Later on, it was tested on patients with psychiatric conditions because of the powerful calming effect that it had. At the time, it was recognized as a reversible pharmacological lobotomy and since back in those days, lobotomy was used as a way to treat various behavioral disorders such as psychosis, physicians thought that the drug would be effective in managing psychiatric conditions. Eventually, chlorpromazine proved to be more effective in managing the symptoms of psychosis than just providing the lobotomy-like sedation that it was first known for. As the decades passed, more and more antipsychotic medications have been discovered and developed by following an approach which incorporated this information. Additionally, the studies that were conducted after the first antipsychotic drugs were discovered also led to the development of anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants and many other medications which are also used in the management of psychiatric conditions.

How Antipsychotic Medications Work

Antipsychotic medications work through affecting the actions of various types of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain that communicate with each other so that an individual would be able to: feel certain emotions such as satisfaction and motivation; and control some muscle movements. The main neurotransmitter that is affected by the use of most antipsychotic medications would be dopamine. Studies have shown that if dopamine in the brain becomes overactive, it can cause delusions, hallucinations, extreme mood swings and thought disorder. By using antipsychotics, the overactivity of dopamine and other neurotransmitters are controlled, which can ultimately help an individual feel better.

Types of Antipsychotic Medications
There are main two types or groups of antipsychotic medications and these are the typical or the first generation antipsychotics and the atypical or the second generation antipsychotics. The typical antipsychotics or the first generation antipsychotics are the older medications which are used for the treatment or management of psychosis, particularly schizophrenia, as well as the treatment of agitation, acute mania and other psychiatric conditions. The first typical antipsychotics which were used clinically are the phenothiazines.

Typical antipsychotics are further divided into three classifications based on their chlorpromazine equivalence or on how much milligrams of the medication needs to be administered to achieve the desired effects that are equivalent to those of 100 milligrams of chlorpromazine. There are: the low-potency typical antipsychotics, which include chlorpromazine, thioridazine, mesoridazine and levomepromazine; the medium-potency typical antipsychotic medications which include loxapine, molindone, perphenazine, trifluoperazine and thiothixene; and the high-potency typical antipsychotics which include haloperidol, droperidol, fluphenazine, zuclopenthixol and prochlorperazine. Although typical antipsychotics work like atypical antipsychotics in blocking the actions of dopamine in the brain, they are more likely to cause various motor control disabilities in patients such as body rigidity, involuntary tremors and unsteady movements like the ones caused by Parkinson’s disease

The atypical antipsychotics or the second generation antipsychotics would be the antipsychotic medications which were developed after the typical antipsychotics came out in the market. The first atypical antipsychotic was clozapine. It was introduced into clinical practice back in the 1970s but was temporarily avoided by physicians because of related concerns of drug-induced agranulocytosis, which is a kind of acute blood condition. Eventually, after plenty of research, clozapine reemerged as a viable antipsychotic, primarily because of its effectiveness in the treatment and management of schizophrenia.

Today, a lot of atypical antipsychotics are used and oftentimes, preferred, in many countries. Some of the approved and marketed atypical antipsychotics include amisulpride, aripiprazole, asenapine, blonanserin, clotiapine, clozapine, iloperidone, lurasidone, mosapramine, olanzapine, paliperidone, perospirone, quetiapine, remoxipride, risperidone, sertindole, sulpiride, ziprasidone and zotepine. Aside from the typical or the first generation antipsychotics and the atypical or the second generation antipsychotics, there are also the third generation antipsychotics which have recently been developed. An example would be aripiprazole. Third generation antipsychotics differ from the first two types antipsychotics in that they are said to cause less metabolic symptoms and side effects than the first generation and second generation antipsychotics.

Uses of Antipsychotic Medications

Antipsychotic medications are used for numerous conditions and illnesses. Here are some of them.

1. Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a type of mental disorder which is characterized by a change in behavior and perception, along with disorganized thinking which can distort the sense of reality of an individual. Also referred to as psychosis, schizophrenia is one of the mental illnesses that antipsychotics are most commonly prescribed for today.

Most patients with schizophrenia are diagnosed in late adolescence or in early adulthood, although the disorder has also been known to strike at other times in an individual’s life. Some of the symptoms of this condition include: having delusions or having beliefs which are not true such as feelings that the people around them are following them or are trying to hurt them or having beliefs that they have special abilities or powers; paranoia; having hallucinations or hearing voices which are not there; disorganized speech; social isolation; and having negative emotions such as feeling hopeless or lacking the motivation or interest to do certain things. The illness is said to be caused both by genetic and environmental factors.

Schizophrenia can be extremely debilitating, especially if the patient’s condition is severe. This is why medications, particularly antipsychotics, are often prescribed to help in managing it. Some of the commonly prescribed antipsychotic medications used for the management of schizophrenia include olanzapine or Zyprexa, quetiapine or Seroquel, asenapine or Saphis, lurasidone or Latuda, risperidone or Risperdal, ziprasidone or Geodon, and iloperidone or Fanapt. These medications are often used along with other methods of treatment such as ECT or electroconvulsive therapy, ACT or assertive community treatment, supported employment, and CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy. There are also some patients who are also prescribed antidepressant medications such as SSRI or serotonergic medications which affect serotonin levels.